Erev Shel Shoshanim

Erev Shel Shoshanim (English: Evening of Lilies or Evening of Roses; the Hebrew word shoshana has been identified with both flowers) is a poetic Hebrew love song. Its melody is often used as wedding music in Jewish weddings. It is well known not only within Israeli and Jewish music circles, but known throughout the Middle East, and it is often used as a song belly dancers dance to. The song has also been translated into Armenian, in which language its title is "Yarus (O, Rose!)".

The music is by Yosef Hadar, the lyrics are by Moshe Dor. The song was first recorded in 1957 by singer Yafa Yarkoni, and a year later by the duo HaDuda'im. Their version became a smash hit in Israel. The Dudaim toured the world extensively in the '60s, and "Erev shel Shoshanim" became one of their international signature songs. During the '60s and '70s the song was recorded by various international singers, including Harry Belafonte, Olivera Katarina, Nana Mouskouri, Daliah Lavi, Martin Simpson and Miriam Makeba. In 1974, Yugoslav progressive rock band Dah recorded their hit song "Šošana", which featured melody based on "Erev Shel Shoshanim". In 1975, after moving to Belgium and changing the name to Land, the band recorded an English-language version of "Šošana" (entitled "Shoshana"), which became an international hit.

In 1966, the Israeli folk dancing choreographer Zvi Hillman created the first folk dance based on the song.

Juhani Forsberg used the melody, which he thought to be an Israeli folksong, in his song Tiellä ken vaeltaa, which has since ended up in the hymnbook of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.

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